Manchester United are preparing for the biggest game of their season as the result of the Europa League final on 24 May between them and Eredivisie side Ajax will decide if the current campaign was a success or a failure.
If the Red
Devils, who are probably slight favourites against a young Ajax side,
win the game, they will have ensured their place in next season's
Champions League and captured their third trophy of the season. United
picked up the Community Shield at the start of the season, and added the
EFL Cup in February. If not, it will be a return to the Europa League
again next season.
Jose Mourinho abandoned hopes of finishing in
the top four in March and completely shifted his focus on winning the
Europa League stating that winning a title is more important than
finishing fourth. The Portuguese manager has rested key players for
their commitments in Europe while giving fringe players and even a
number of academy stars a run out with the first-team.
United played
their youngest team in Premier League history in the final game of the
league campaign against Crystal Palace on Sunday (21 May) after the
manager chose to rest his main players for the upcoming final on
Wednesday (24 May). The likes of Antonio Valencia, Daley Blind, Matteo
Darmian, Ander Herrera, Juan Mata, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Marcus
Rashford were all left out and the seven are expected to return to the
starting lineup for the final.
The big loss for the final is Eric
Bailly, who is suspended, after he picked up a straight red during the
second-leg of their semi-final win over Celta Vigo. The Ivory Coast
international has been one of United's best players this season, and it
will be a big blow for the manager. Chris Smalling or Phil Jones is
expected to deputise for the Ivorian and partner Daley Blind at the
heart of the United defence.
The
other question mark is over the fitness of Marouane Fellaini, who picked
up an injury during the 0-0 draw against Southampton, which was the
penultimate game of the season. The Belgian has played in every game in
the Europa League since the start of the knockout phase and even scored
the crucial goal in the second-leg to take United to the final.
Herrera and Pogba, who played the first-half of their final league game
against Crystal Palace, are expected to start and Mourinho will have to
decide between Michael Carrick and Fellaini for the final spot in
midfield. The manager revealed after the game against Palace that he
knows the team that will play in the final.
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